A Celebration of American Poetry at the White House

May 11, 2011
11:00 AM EST

The President and First Lady are welcoming accomplished poets, musicians, artists and students from across the country to the White House today for a celebration of American poetry and prose. Mrs. Obama kicked off the White House Music Series in 2009 with a Jazz Studio, and has since hosted events to promote music and arts education through the celebration of Country, Classical, Motown, a Fiesta Latina, a salute to Broadway, Music of the Civil Rights Movement and a dance tribute to Judith Jamison.

This afternoon, Mrs. Obama will host a workshop for students from California to New York. Designed to educate and inspire talented young people, students will work with the evening’s performers. They’ll also hear from the First Lady and Melody Barnes, the Director of Domestic Policy Council, who will highlight a new study on the importance of arts education. Don’t miss the event live on www.whitehouse.gov at 2:25 PM EDT.

In the evening, artists will showcase the impact of poetry on American culture, with performances by Elizabeth Alexander, Billy Collins, Common, Rita Dove, Kenneth Goldsmith, Alison Knowles, Aimee Mann, Jill Scott and Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers. Tune in live on www.whitehouse.gov or watch and discuss through facebook at 7:10 PM EDT.

Don’t miss a celebration of poetry on WhiteHouse.gov:

2:25 PM EDT: White House Poetry Workshop
7:10 PM EDT: An Evening of Poetry at the White House
- Watch on WhiteHouse.gov/live
- Watch and discuss through the facebook